Posted by:
Mark Grashow
K-12 Classroom teacher
Brooklyn, NY

Topic:
student ownership of schools

Message:
If one believes that the function of school is to serve the needs of the whole student, then who better to determine the needs of the students than the students themselves? Rather than dictating policy from the top down, school governance can afford students the opportunity to speak out on issues that directly concern them. Issues of racism, prejudice, poverty, drug uses, anorexia, community responsibility, sexuality, parental abuse and alcoholism can be brought into the mainstream. If students believe they have some ownership of school policy, then the school becomes their school. If they own the school, then they must take responsibility for its success and failure.

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